Alternating-current regulator



(No Model.)

0. OPFRELL. ALTERNATING- GURRENT REGULATOR.

No. 521,666. Patented June 19,1894.

INVENTEJR= WITNESEEE= MW 6 63M UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLOF OFFRELL, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SCHUYLERELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

ALTERNATlNG-CURRENT REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 521,666, dated June 19,1894.

Application filed December 12, 1892. Serial No. 454,900. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLOF OFFRELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRegulators for Alternating Current Translating Devices; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of theinventron, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanylng drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to electrical apparatus using an alternatingcurrent, and its object is to regulate or adjust the quantity of currentconsumed by the apparatus. It is especlally applicable to incandescentelectric lamps, and I have in the drawings hereunto annexed illustratedsuch an application of it,

though it is adapted to be used with any translatlng device employing analternating current. Briefly speaking, I avail myself of thecounter-electromotive force, developed in a helix, to oppose the currentflowing into the translating device. In the case of an incandescentlamp, this results in a dimming of the light; so that, in such anapplication of the lnvention, it affords a means of regulating the llghtemitted by the lamp.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is an elevation of an incandescent lampprovided with my regulating device. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively frontand rear views of the helix and switch, which are inclosed in the lampsocket. F g. t is a vertical cross-section of the same. Flg. 5 is adiagram of the circuits. Fig. 6 shows the armature and the spindle. Fig.7 shows the armature and the core of the helix; and Fig. 8 shows asegment of the helix core.

The regulating helix A is preferably circular in shape for the sake ofcompactness. Its core is laminated, and is for convenience made ofsemi-circular segments a, a, perforated at each end to receive the bolts0. by means of which the segments are clamped together and united to twoI-shaped frames B, which extend diametrically across the helix. The twosegments a, a are wound with coils a connected in series and having likepoles adjacent, the projections a on the segments forming the two polepieces.

Secured to one of the frames B is a disk C of insulating material, towhich are attached two segmental contact plates 0, c. The plate 0 isconnected by the screw (1 with one of the wires D, supplying current tothe lamp E or other translating apparatus, and also with one end of thecoils of. The other end of the coils is connected with the plate 0'. Theother supply main D is connected directly with the lamp, as by means ofthe bar F, insulated from the frame B, and the wire cl leading from theupper end of the bar to one of the A contacts of the lamp, preferably acentral contact e. The outer contacts 6 are supported in an insulatingplate G, and are connected by means of the frame B with the spindle H ofthe switch, which is journaled in hearings in the frame B, and has athumb-piece or handle h at one end. The other end of the spindle carriesthe radial contact arm h, adapted to move over the plates 0, c, andthereby close the circuit. Rigidly fastened to the spindle between theframes and within the helix A, is a laminated armature I.

The operation of my device is as follows: When the contact arm h restsupon the plate 0, the current passes directly to the lamp, and the helixis cut out. But when the switch is turned to the position shown in Figs.2 and 3, the coils a are thrown into circuit, and their self-inductionor counter-electromotive force acts in opposition to the current,tending to weaken it. The action of the coils is but slight, however,with the switch in this position, because the armature I now standstransverse to the lines of force passing across from one pole a to theother. By turning the spindle, the contact arm is carried up along theplate 0' and the armature is brought more nearly into line with thepoles of the helix, decreasing the reluctance of the field, andconsequently increasing the counter-electromotive force, and diminishingthe strength of the current. The lamp therefore gets dimmer and dimmer,until the armature stands in line with the pole pieces and the helixexerts its greatest opposition to the current. By

swinging the contact arm still farther,it passes off the plate 0, andbreaks the circuit, extinguishing the lamp completely.

My regulator is compact, simple, and easily made. It can be readilyinclosed in the base of a lamp socket, as shown in Fig. 1.

It is evident that the details of construction may be considerablyvaried without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is 1. A regulator foran alternating current translating device, comprising two opposingelectro-magnets in circuit therewith, and a core without a coil pivotedbetween the common pole pieces of said magnets and adapted to be turnedmore or less transversely to the lines of force joining said poles,substantially as described.

2. A regulator for alternating current translating devices comprising ahelix having a laminated core, an armature movable to and from saidcore, and a switch moving with the armature and adapted to shunt thehelix when moved in one direction and to break the circuit when moved inthe other direction, substantially as described.

3. Aregulator for alternating current translating devices, comprising acircular helix in circuit with said translating device having twodiametrically opposite poles and a revoluble armature without a coilmounted concentrically Within said helix, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a helix,of a spindle, an armature mountedthereon in proximity to the poles of the helix, a stationary diskcarrying contact plates connected with the coils of the helix, and acontact arm on the spindle adapted to bear against said plates,substantially as described.

5. The combination with a helix having two opposite poles, of anarmature mounted to turn into line with or transverse to said poles, aspindle carrying the armature, a contact arm on the spindle, and twocontact plates connected with the ends of the helix, one of whichcontacts with the arm as the armature passes from a position transverseto the poles to a position in line therewith, substantially asdescribed.

6. The combination with the I-shaped' frames B, of the segmental core a,a; Wound with coils, and having polar projections a secured to the endsof the frames, the plates 0, c insulated from the frames, and connectedwith the ends of the coils, the spindle H journaled in the frames B andcarrying the armature I and contact arm h, and connected with oneterminal of a translating device, and a line Wire D connected with theplate 0, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OLOF OFFRELL.

Witnesses:

ERNST CUMDZREN, W. J. MORGAN.

